Friday, 5 February 2010

by Kathryn HadleyVarious historically themed celebratory events are being organised this weekend and at the beginning of next week in anticipation of the Chinese New Year and St. Valentine's Day on February 14th. Here is a small selection...

Valentines Day

The season for love: A collection of choice valentines Until February 27thBodleian Library, Broad StreetOxford OX1 3BGTelephone: 01865 277162www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/bodleyThis display of 38 items provides an insight into how St. Valentines Day was celebrated in the 19th century. The valentines range from creations of lace paper, silk, scraps, tinselling and artificial flowers accompanied by elaborate poetry to simple woodcuts. Some valentines were home-made tokens of love; others were produced in manufactories where skill and care were allied to business acumen.

Past Caring: A Celebration of Love in HistoryFebruary 6th – 14thA series of walks and talks are being organised as part of this innovative partnership of museums, archives and higher education organisations, which include Birkbeck College, London Transport Museum, The Wiener Library, National Maritime Museum, London Metropolitan Archive and the Hampstead Museum.For further information visit www.pastcaring.org

Love on the StreetsFebruary 10thBirkbeck, University of LondonMalet StreetLondon WC1E 7HXA walk with Mike Berlin and Eu Jin Chua, which starts at 6.00pm from Birkbeck College, followed by talks with Professor Alison Light, Professor Amanda Vickery and Juliet Gardiner at the London Review of Books Bookshop.

Chinese New Year

The Museum of London Docklands is hosting various events to mark the Chinese New Year.Museum of London DocklandsWest India QuayLondon E14 4ALTelephone: 020 7001 9844www.museumoflondon.org.ukLetter from an Unknown WomanFebruary 6th, 2pmFree film screening organised in partnership with the Chinese Cultural Centre. A love story set against the backdrop of the Chinese Revolution.Old Limehouse to ChinatownFebruary 13th, 2pmA guided walk led by Brian Gover through the streets of Limehouse, the site of London’s first Chinatown, where Chinese sailors first settled in the 1880s.The great voyages of Zheng HeFebruary 14th, 4pmScreening of a short documentary about the late 14th-century Chinese mariner, navigator, diplomat and fleet admiral.